F 
/4 



.CiC9 




mM\% of 

ebarkstown 



bV 



jaazaniai) Cmby 



U}4 




Class. 




Rev. Jaazaniah CnosBY, D. D. 



Annals of Charlestown 

in the County of Sullivan, New Hampshire 

™ by 

JAAZANIAH CROSBY 




Published by 

The NEW HAMPSHIRE HISTORICAL 

SOCIETY 

1834 



1 



Reprinted by 

The Novelty Press 

Charlestown, New Hampshire 

1905 






o 
"5— 



INTRODUCTORY 

THE writer of these Annals, published by "The New 
^ Hampshire Historical Society"in 1834, the Rev. Jaazaniah 
Crosby, was born in the town of "Cockermouth",now He- 
bron,on the 3rd. day of April 1780,in a log cabin, and work- 
ed hard on his father's farm until he was eighteen years 
old, when desirous of obtaining an education, he walked 
eighty miles to Exeter, where he entered Phillips Academy. 

Here he studied two years on a charity foundation, 
and in 1800 entered Harvard College; graduating in 1804, 
partially supporting himself meanwhile, by writing in the 
office of the Clerk of the Courts. 

Immediately after graduation he returned to Exeter, 
where he acted as assistant teacher for a year, and then 
commenced the study of theology under Rev. Dr. Appleton, 
then of Hampton, afterwards President of Bowdoin Col- 
lege. Here he came under the influence of Rev. Dr. Buck- 
minster of Portsmouth, by whom he was encouraged to pro- 
ceed, and assisted in his studies, and was finally licensed 
to preach in 1808, by the Piscataqua Association, Dr. Buck- 
minster acting as Scribe and writing his certificate of li- 
cense. He preached his first sermon at Greenland, and in 
1809 preached for some months at Lyndeborough, and also 
at Freeport, Me., thence coming to Charlestown, where he 



received a unanimous "call", and was installed in 1810 o- 
ver the South Parish. 

Of a genial and sympathetic nature, he naturally fell 
much under the influence of Dr.Buckminster, and followed 
him in the new movement, which at the beginning of 
the last century, broke away from the severe Calvinism of 
the Puritans, and abjured the thunders of Sinai, for the 
milder teachings of the Mount of Olives. This genial nature 
and his sympathy with all their feelings and thoughts made 
him intensely popular with his parishioners, particularly 
with the younger ones, and he had an innate love of fun 
and merriment which endeared him to them especially, 
and he could tell a good story, and enjoy a good joke with 
any of them. The church which he describes in the Annals 
was for many years the only one in the village, and was 
always well filled, the people driving in from North Charles- 
town, South Charlestown, "Hemlock" and "the Borough", 
in big wagon loads every Sunday. One of my earliest recol- 
lections is of Deacon Sam Putnam's big Bass Viol, which 
before the purchase of an organ, filled a prominent part in 
"When rolling years shall cease to move", of grand old 
"Denmark". 

Dr. Crosby never preached controversial sermons, 
and he says at the close of his "Annals" speaking of the 
religious character of Charlestown, ' 'that the people did not 
care enough about religion to quarrel about it"! This state 
of peace continued until 1835, when a "Revival" largely 
instigated by people from other towns, resulted in the e- 
rection of a Methodi.-^t Church, which however only lasted 
a few years, and the building has been converted into ten- 
ements. 

This was followed in 1839, by a Congregational So- 
ciety of the old fashioned Orthodox type, formed by some 
of the people who clung to the traditions of their fathers, 
and which is still in existence, as well as an Episcopal, and 
a Roman Catholic Society, made necessary by the changes 
in trie population. 



Dr. Crosby occasionally exchanged pulpits with the 
Unitarian ministers of Keene, Walpole and Dublin, but his 
most frequent exchange was with the good old Orthodox 
minister of Springfield, Father Smiley, who was wont to 
say, "Brother Crosby is in a greivous error; but I love Bro- 
ther Crosby." Father Smiley was a little dried up looking 
man, and a great contrast to Dr. Crosby's portly figure, and 
I remember the delight of the young folks, when he popped 
his head up in the pulpit one morning, and announced as 
his text, "I am the Rose of Sharon, and the Lily of the 
Valley." 

He had one favorite sermon, on The Prodigal Son, 
in which he described the older brother as ' 'a good honest 
follow out in the field, digging potatoes", and which "Aunt 
Polly" Bellows said she had heard seventeen times! 

But this is not relevant to Dr. Crosby. — Personally 
as I have said he was rather portly, of medium height, 
with a large head, and a very high forehead, and a gener- 
ally benevolent expression. He had a habit when talking of 
crossing his hands on his chest, and rotating his thumbs a- 
bout each other which amused the children, of whom he 
was very fond; and another one of repeating in his prayers, 
petitions that the Lord would make his congregation, ' *a 
peculiar people, zealous of good works." 

Harvard College conferred on him the degree of Doc- 
tor of Divinity in 1853, forty nine years after his gradua- 
tion. On the 15th. of December, 1864, his parsonage was 
burned over his head, and although he escaped with his life, 
he died at the home of his son in Cambridge, Mass., from 
erysipelas, brought on by the shock, on the 30th. of Decem- 
ber. 

His remains v/ere brought to Charlestown, on the 
3rd. of January, 1865, and were interred in the beautiful 
Cemetery, where they rest among those of the great ma- 
jority who had listened to his ministrations, and by whom 
he was respected and beloved. 

The church which he describes in his Annals was de- 



stroyed by fire in March 1842, and on the walls of its suc- 
cessor, whose dedicatory sermon he preached, can be seen 
the following tablet. — 

Rev. Jaazaniah Crosby, D, D. 
Born in Hebron, N. H., April 3, 1780 

Graduated Harvard College 1804 

Ordained Pastor of this Church 1810 

Died in its ministry December 30, 1864 

Surviving most of the members of his original 
parish, yet he renewed the circle of his friendship 
in his advancing years, and his parishioners, with 
other friends, have united to erect this Memorial 
of his worth and of their grateful affection. 

The wisdom that is from above, is first pure, then 
peaceable. 

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet 
of him who publisheth Peace. 

During the last ten years of his ministry, he was pro- 
vided with an assistant or Associate Pastor, the Rev. Ad- 
ams Ayer, Edward Barker, and Livingston Stone succeed- 
ing in that capacity. 

Samuel Webber. 




South Parish Church, 1905 



Annals of Charlestown 






«<4444444HARLEST0WN is situate in a delightful 
<4 *4 and fertile valley, bounded on the east 

•< by a range of high hills, and on the west 
•< by the Connecticut river. Although they 
Jf ^^ «< have not, like the mountains and rivers 
•< "^ of other regions, been made the theme 

«a|«^c4«4«4«^<4«4 of the poet's song, it requires but little 
aid from the imagination to believe them equally entitled 
to the same honor. But the portion of the town, peculiarly 
adapted to awaken the attention of the traveller, is the vil- 
lage. As he views it in its secluded loveliness, guarded by 
the barriers of mountain and river, he might pardonably 
fancy it secure from the vices, which contaminate the 
world without, and be ready to trace in its beauty, and its 
seeming peacefulness and innocence, a resemblance to an- 
cient Eden. But let him rest, when imagination shall have 
carried him thus far, lest, if his investigation proceed, he 
find that there are not impassable barriers against the evils 
and vices, which are the universal portion of mankind. 

The village is situate between two meadows, called 
the upper and lower meadow. The former contains about 
two hundred acres, and the latter (called also the great 
meadow,) about five hundred. The soil of these is alluvial 
and exceedingly fertile in all kinds of produce, necessary 
to the sustenance of man and beast. There are other mead- 



ows of different sizes, which, together with the two alread- 
y mentioned, contain about twelve hundred acres. The 
length of the town is about thirteen miles, and its breadth 
varies from three to four and a half miles- The number of 
inhabitants is about 1700, and has varied very little during 
the last twenty years. 

The first settlement of Charlestown, originally called 
Number Four, (usually written No. 4,) was in 1740, under 
the authority of Massachusetts. The first account found in 
the records of the General Court of Massachusetts, relative 
to the settlement of the banks of the Connecticut, now 
called Charlestown, is a report of a committee, stating that 
it was expedient to lay out a range of towns from, or be- 
tween, the Merrimack and the Connecticut, and on each 
side of the last mentioned river. This report was made on 
the 15th of January, 1735, and was voted to be concurred 
in; but when the committee was appointed, or for what pur- 
pose, whether for that embraced in the report, or some oth- 
er, does not appear in the record of the report, nor is any 
clue to it to be found by a careful examination of a full in- 
dex, and of portions of the records, as far back as the year 
1730. On the subsequent day, (Jan. 16, 1735,) in pursu- 
ance of the above report, and its acceptance, a committee 
was appointed to lay out the range of Towns. 

On the 30th of November, 1736, is found in the records 
a report, purporting to be a further report of this commit- 
tee, begging leave to amend their first report in conse- 
quence of having found upon examination, subsequent 
thereto, of other grants and plans, that the lower town- 
ships as first reported, interfered with those laid out and 
designated by the name of the Ashuelot townships, which 
interference they had corrected in a plan of the townships 
accompanying the report, and submitted for the accept- 
ance of the General Court. This report as amended with 
the accompanying plan, was voted to be accepted. In the 
records, however, is found no mention of the first report; 
an I n':^ither of the reports, nor the accompanying plans, 




Village Plot, 1754 



are to be found upon the files of the State Papers. In the 
amended report, which, as recorded, is very short, and 
merely referring to the plan, it appears that the townships 
were numbered successively from 1 to 9 inclusively; and 
that the committee had given hearing to applications for 
grants to persons, pui-posing to become settlers in four 
townships, and had appointed a time in the month of May 
next ensuing, for a hearing of applications for grants in 
the remaining townships. After this, the records are 
silent with respect to these townships, as far as shown by 
the index, until the year 1749, June 24, when a vote was 
passed for the raising of 100 men for the defence of the 
western frontiers, and in assigning the distribution and 
location of these, it is specified, that 25 of them should be 
posted at No. 4, which was the same now called Charles- 
town. 

In June, 22d, 1750, in the bill voted for the establish- 
ment of forces and garrisons, fifteen men, including one 
captain and one sergeant, were voted for the post at No. 4. 

In January, 23d, 1752, in a similar bill, passed for the 
establishment of forts and garrisons, the captain, one ser- 
geant and fifteen men were voted for the fort at No. 4, 
with a provision, that allowance should be made to them 
for billeting, 4s. 6d. per week for each man. In June 14th, 
1753, it was voted to withdraw the garrison of ten men 
from No. 4, and Capt. Phinehas Stevens should be oflfi- 
cially requested to take charge of the arms and stores that 
were public property, and keep them safely for the use of 
the government. On the letter files is found a copy of a 
letter from the Secretary, Mr. Josiah Wiilard, to Capt. 
Stevens, requesting him to take this charge, as the gov- 
ernment had determined to withdraw the garrison. It 
would appear that this was afterward rescinded or sus- 
pended, probably in consequence of some remonstrance 
from the settlers of the town, since on the 24th of the 
ensuing January, that is, in 1754, there is a vote to the 
effect, that no more pay be granted to the garrison of ten 



men at No. 4, and again directing- that Capt. Stevens 
should be directed to take charge of the arms and stores. 
Hence, it would appear that the garrison had been main- 
tained several months at the expense of the province of 
Massachusetts, after the first vote to withdraw it. On 
what grounds this was done, does not appear from any- 
thing in the records, in the acts of the Court on file, or in 
the files of letters. The last vote, however, appears to 
have been carried into effect, though apparently not wise- 
ly; since on the 26th of November, of the same year, Gov. 
Shirley sent a special m.essage to the House, to recommend 
to the consideration of the House the propriety and impor- 
tance of affording protection to No. 4, although the same 
was within the limits of New Hampshire; stating as the 
occasion of the message, the receipt of a petition presented 
by Capt. Phinehas Stevens and others, inhabitants of No. 
4, praying for aid on account of their peculiar exposure to 
the assaults of the Indians. In this message Governor 
Shirley dwells on the importance of No. 4, as an advanced 
frontier post; and urges, as a motive, the conciliating of 
the favor of his Majesty, which he thought would be 
especially secured by their granting the aid solicited. 
From some reason or other, no proceedings v/ere had upon 
this message, at least none appear on record till Jan. 9th, 
1755, when, on consideration of the above petition, it v/as 
voted that Capt. Phinehas Stevens should be authorized 
by the Captain General to enlist fifteen men, to serve from 
the 15th of February to the 15th of Oc;tober, next ensuing, 
or till his Majesty's pleasure should be known on the sub- 
ject, provided it were signified before said 15th of October. 
The force, thus raised, was probably disbanded at the 
time assigned for the period of enlistment, since on the 
15th of February, 1756, Gov. Shirley sent another message 
to the House in consequence of a petition from the inhabi- 
tants of No. 4, stating their apprehensions of an assault 
from a combined force of French and Indians, and that 
they had been disappointed in their expectation of aid and 



protection from their own government. The message 
recommends them to the attention of the General Court, 
and advises that the aid soUcited should be granted. No 
immediate proceedings are recorded as ensuing on this 
message, nor is any further mention made till June 10th, 
of the same year, when it is recorded, that the General 
Court having received and considered the petition of John 
Spafford, in behalf of the inhabitants of No. 4, praying for 
aid and defence against the Indians, grant to him leave to 
enlist within the province ten men, to be in pay and sub- 
sistence of the province until their place should be sup- 
plied by Gov. Shirley, or until the further orders of the 
Court. 

This force was accordingly raised; as on the 18th of 
April, 1757, appears a record of a vote to dismiss the garri- 
son of ten men kept by the province at No. 4, in case Lord 
Loudoun, then the commander in chief of the King's 
forces throughout all the provinces, should, as it was ex- 
pected he would do, station there a detachment of the 
Royal troops, for the protection of the inhabitants. After 
this, no further mention is made of No. 4 in the records of 
Massachusetts, save a very brief record a year or two sub- 
sequent, to "slight" the petition of the inhabitants of No. 
4 for aid; no mention being made of the particulars of the 
petition, or the occasion of its presentation. 

The first settlement of Charlestov/n was by three fam- 
ilies from Lunenburg, Massachusetts, by the name of 
Farnsworth. During twenty years the inhabitants suf- 
fered, with little intermission, from the ravages of the 
French and Indians; and, of course, became more familiar 
with the dangers of war than with the arts of husbandry. 
What have since been denominated the peaceful labors of 
the husbandman were then unknown, for the tranquility 
of the laborer was perpetually disturbed by the apprehen- 
sion of savage incursions. Instead of enjoying the privi- 
lege of sitting under his vine and fig tree, with none to 
make him afraid, he was obliged to go forth to his labors 



with the implements of war as well as with those of hus- 
bandry. Even in the temple of the God of peace the wor- 
shipper was compelled to appear with the weapons of war. 

In 1743, the inhabitants of No. 4, began to consult their 
safety by erecting a fort. It was situate a few rods south 
of the meeting house, in front of the late residence of Dr. 
David Taylor. It covered about three-quarters of an acre 
and was protected on the north by picket posts, about one 
foot in diameter and fourteen feet high. From the house 
of Simon Sartwell, near the meeting house, was dug a sub- 
terranean passage, leading to Col. Abel Walker's cellar, 
and thence to the fort. 

The first depredations by the enemy on the borders of 
New Hampshire were made early in the spring of 1746. 
No. 4 was then, and long after, the northern frontier, and 
of course exposed to peculiar sufferings. On the 19th of 
April in the above named year a party of Indians appeared 
at No. 4, burnt the saw and grist mill and captured John 
Spafford, Isaac Parker and Stephen Farnsworth. The 
captives were conveyed to Canada, but soon obtained their 
freedom. 

In the beginning of May the enemy returned to No. 4, 
and on the second day, while a few people were near a 
barn about sixty rods from the fort, eight Indians, who 
had concealed themselves in the barn, fired upon the party 
and killed Seth Putnam, one of the foldiers belonging to 
the fort. Major Josiah Willard, the commander of the 
garrison, with two soldiers, ran near to them undiscovered 
and fired upon them, which caused them to retreat in great 
haste. The Indians reported to the prisoners in Canada, 
that at this time two of their number were mortally 
wounded and died soon after. 

Another contest took place on the 24th of May. Capt. 
Paine from Massachusetts, having arrived with a troop of 
horse, about twenty of his men went 50 or 60 rods from 
the fort to view the place where Putnam was killed, and 
before they discovered the enemy, they were attacked by 



a large body of Indians, who immediately endeavored to 
cut off their communication with the fort. Captain Stev- 
ens, the commander of the garrison, came out with a body 
of men for their relief and a severe action ensued, which 
continued a considerable time. At last the enemy fled; 
and, as was supposed, with considerable loss. Stevens lost 
Aaron Lyon, Peter Perrin, Samuel Farnsworth, Joseph 
Allen and Joseph Marcy. Obadiah Sartwell was captured 
and four of his men were wounded. The Indians in their 
haste left some of their guns and blankets. 

In the same year, on the 19th of June, a large body of 
the enemy again appeared at No. 4. Capt. Stevens and 
Capt. Brown, marching with about 50 men from the fort 
into a meadow, discovered the enemy in ambush, before 
they had time to fire. Stevens began the attack, and a 
severe action was fought. The enemy were repulsed. 
Stevens lost none on the spot, but Jedidiah Winchell was 
mortally wounded and died soon after. David Parker, 
Jonathan Stanhope and Noah Heaton were wounded, but 
recovered. "Several blankets, hatchets, spears, guns, 
etc., were left on the ground, which were sold for forty 
pounds old tenor." 

A party of the enemy again appeared at No. 4 on the 3d 
day of August. Suspicions of their appearance were ex- 
cited by the barking of dogs. Scouts were sent out from 
the fort, and had proceeded but a few rods, before they 
were attacked and Ebenezer Phillips was killed. The resi- 
due effected their escape to the fort. The enemy sur- 
rounded the garrison and endeavored for three days to 
take it, but finding their efforts ineffectual they withdrew, 
after having burnt several buildings and killed all the cat- 
tle, horses, etc. , within their reach. 

In the summer of 1748 Capt. Ephraim Brown, from 
Sudbury, arrived with a troop of horse to relieve Capt. 
Josiah Brown. The Sudbury troop tarried about a month, 
at the end of which they were relieved by a company, 
commanded by Capt. Winchester, who defended the place 



till autumn, when the inhabitants, fati^ied with watching 
and weary of the dangers of the forest, deserted the place 
entirely for about two or three months. During this re- 
cess the Indians and French were so ice-bound in Canada 
that the frontiers suffered only in apprehension. In 
March, 1747, Capt. Phinehas Stevens, who commanded a 
ranging company of about 30 men, marched to No. 4 and 
took possession of the fort. He found it uninjured by the 
enemy and an old spaniel and a cat, which had been 
domesticated before the evacuation, had guarded it safely 
through the winter, and gave the troops a hearty welcome 
to their tenement. 

Finding the post entire. Captain Stevens determined to 
keep possession of it. He had not been there many days 
when he was attacked by a very large party of French and 
Indians, commanded by M. Debeline. On the 7th of April, 
1747, "our days being very much disturbed, gave us reason 
to think that the enemy were about, which occasioned us 
not to open the gate at the usual time. But one of our 
men being very desirous to know the certainty ventured 
out privately to set on the dogs about 9 o'clock in the 
evening, and went about twenty rods from the fort, firing 
off his gun and urging on the dogs. Whereupon the enemy, 
being within a few rods, immediately arose from behind a 
log and fired; but, through the goodness of God, the man 
got into the fort with only a slight wound. The enemy, 
being then discovered, arose from all their ambushments 
and attacked us on all sides. The wind being very high 
and everything exceedingly dry they set fire to all the old 
fence. They also set fire to a log house about forty rods 
distant from the fort, to the windward, so that in a few 
minutes we were entirely surrounded by fire, all which 
was performed with the most hideous shouting from all 
quarters, which they continued in the most terrible man- 
ner till the next day at 10 o'clock at night, without inter- 
mission, in which time we had no opportunity either to eat 
or sleep. But notwithstanding all their shouting and 




■■ ''ft.'im ifjki*h 



Evangelical Congregational Church 
1905 



threatenings our men seemed to be not in the least daunt- 
ed, but fought with great resolution, which undoubtedly 
gave the enemy reason to think we had determined to 
stand it out to the last degree, and, although they had pro- 
vided themselves with a sort of fortification, which they 
had determined to push before them, and so bring fuel to 
the side of the fort in order to burn it down; yet, mstead 
of performing what they threatened, and seemed to be 
immediately going to undertake, they called to us and de- 
sired a cessation of arms until sunrise the next mornmg, 
which was granted; at which time they said they would 
come to a parley. Accordingly the French General, 
Debeline, came with about 50 or 60 of his men with a flag 
of truce, and stuck it down within about 20 rods of the 
fort, in plain sight of the same, and said if we would send 
three men to him he would send as many to us, to which 
we complied. The General sent a French lieutenant, with 
a French soldier, and made the following proposal, viz.:- 
If we would immediately resign the fort we should have 
our lives, and have liberty to put on all the clothes we had 
and also take a sufficient quantity of provisions to carry us 
to Montreal, and bind up our provisions and blankets, lay 
down our arms and march out of the fort; and that we 
should be assured of using our clothes and provisions for 
our own comfort. Upon our men's returning he desired 
that the captain would meet him half way and give an an- 
swer to the above proposal. He did not wait to have me 
give him an answer, but went on in the following manner, 
viz. : That what he had promised he was ready to per- 
form, but upon our refusal he would immediately set the 
fort on fire, or run over the top; for he had 700 men with 
him; and if we made any further resistance and should 
happen to kill one Indian, we might all expect to be put to 
the sword. The fort, said he, I have resolved to have or 
die. Now do what you please, for I am as easy to have 
you fight as to give it up. I told the General that in case 
of extremity his proposal would do; but inasmuch as I was 



sent here to defend this fort it would not be consistent 
with my orders to give it up, unless I was better satisfied 
that he was able to perform what he threatened. I fur- 
ther told him that it was but poor encouragement to resign 
into the hands of an enemy if, upon one of their number 
being killed, they would put all to the sword, when it was 
very probable that we had killed some of them already. 
Well, said he, go into the fort and see whether your men 
dare fight any more and give me an answer quickly, for 
my men want to be fighting. Whereupon I went into the 
fort and called the men together and informed them what 
the General said, and then put it to vote whether they 
would fight or resign, and they voted to a man to stand it 
out, and also declared that they would fight as long as they 
had life rather than go with them. Upon this I returned 
the answer that we determined to fight it out, upon which 
they gave a shout and so continued firing and shouting till 
day light next morning, it being now about noon; but they 
never had the courage to bring their fortification nor run 
over the fort; but in lieu thereof they spent the night in 
shooting their fiery arrows, which were easily put out. 
The next morning at day light they called to us and said 
'Good morning' and desired a cessation of arms for two 
hours, at which time they said they would come to a par- 
ley and perhaps make peace with you, and their desire was 
granted; and they accordingly came with a flag of truce, 
as before; but the proposal, which they were now about to 
make, was so far different from the former that the Gen- 
eral did not care to make it himself, but sent two Indians, 
who came within about eight rods of the fort and stuck 
down their flag and desired that I would send out two men 
to them, which I accordingly did. Upon the men's coming 
to them they made the following proposals: That in case 
we would sell them provisions they would engage to go 
and leave us and not fight any more; and then desired the 
men to go into the fort and desire the captain to send an 
answer. Whereupon I sent out the following answer. 



> 

to 
w 

O 
r 
a 

td 



CO 

O 
-0 

•-0 



> 






O 
H 

O 



^ ^ 



JO 

cc 

GO 

K 
M 
?0 

to 




viz. : As to selling them provision for money, it was con- 
trary to the law of the nation, but if they would send in a 
prisoner for every five bushels of corn I would supply 
them; and upon the Indians returning the answer to the 
General four or five guns were immediately fired against 
the fort and then they withdrew, as we supposed, for we 
heard no more of them, it being now the 10th of April, 2 
o'clock in the afternoon. In all this time we had scarcely 
opportunity to eat or sleep. The cessation of arms gave 
us no great matter of rest, for we supposed they did it to 
get an advantage against us. I believe men were never 
known to hold out with better resolution, for they did not 
seem to desire to sit or lie still one minute; for those who 
were not employed in firing at the enemy were employed 
in digging trenches under the bottom of the fort. We dug 
no less than eleven of them so deep that a man could go 
and stand upright in the outside and not endanger him- 
self; so that when these trenches were finished we could' 
wet all the outside of the fort, which we did, and kept it 
wet all night. We drew some hundreds of barrels of water, 
and to undergo all this hard service there were but 30 men, 
and though there were some thousands of guns shot at us 
we had but two men slightly wounded, John Brown and 
Joseph Ely." 

An express was immediately despatched to Boston and 
the intelligence was there received with great joy. Com. 
Sir Charles Knowles was so highly pleased with the con- 
duct of Captain Stevens that he presented him with a val- 
uable and elegant sword, as a reward for his bravery. 
From this circumstance the town, when incorporated, re- 
ceived the name of Charlestown. 

On the 24th of August, 1747, as twelve men were pass- 
ing down the river on their return from the fort to Massa- 
chusetts, they were surprised and attacked by the Indians, 
and Nathan Gould and Thomas Goodall were killed and 
scalped. Oliver Avery was wounded and John Henderson 
taken. The residue escaped. 



On the 15th of March, 1748, while about eight men were 
a few rods from the fort, they were attacked by about 
twenty Indians, who endeavored to cut off their retreat to 
the fort. A skirmish ensued, in which Charles Stevens 
was killed, a man by the name of Androus or Anderson, 
wounded and Eleazar Priest taken captive. 

"In the month of May a scout of eighteen men under 
Capt. Eleazar Melvin, marched from Charlestown to re- 
connoitre the woods toward Lake Champlain, and arriving 
opposite to Crown Point they discovered and fired upon 
two canoes of Indians. This drew out a party from the 
fort, who endeavored to intercept the scout on its return 
to Connecticut river, and by a rapid march the enemy 
gained the front, and Melvin soon crossed their trail, and 
concluding that they would take a route toward Charles- 
town, he resolved to strike the Connecticut at Fort Dum- 
mer and thereby avoid the enemy. On reaching West 
river he halted on the 25th and very imprudently permit- 
ted his men to divert themselves in shooting salmon, then 
passing up the shoals of the river. The enemy, unknown 
to Melvin, were then in close pursuit on his trail, and, 
hearing the rej)ort of the guns, pressed on to the spot and 
gave the incautious scout a sudden fire, which threw it 
into confusion and scattered the men in various directions. 
A small party, however, rallying, returned and engaged 
the enemy, but were soon overpowered and compelled to 
retreat. Melvin, with eleven, reached the fort, having 
lost the residue, all valuable men." 

In May, 1749, intelligence was received of the cessation 
of hostilities between Great Britain and France. But the 
end of incursions by the enemy was not yet, for in the fol- 
lowing June, after the evacuation of the fort by the prin- 
cipal part of the troops, Obadiah Sartwell was killed, while 
ploughing among his corn, and the rider, Enos Stevens, 
son of the defender of the fort, was captured and carried 
to Canada, but he was soon released and returned. These 
were the last depredations on the frontiers during the 






o 

a 

O 

a 

H 
I— I 

O 

o 



CO 

o 
en 




Cape Breton war, and a final treaty of peace with the In- 
dians was concluded on the following September. 

Relieved in a measure from their fears of savage inva- 
sion the inhabitants, for a season, went forth to their 
labors with more encouraging prospects. Although their 
knowledge of the character of their former enemies did 
not permit them to consider the period completed, when 
they might safely beat their swords into plough shares and 
their spears into pruning hooks, yet were their hopes daily 
increasing that tomorrow would be as this day, except 
more abundant in its tokens of peace and prosperity. 
While the continuation of peace was apparently abating 
the resentment of the Indians, it proportionally relaxed the 
vigilance of the men's suspicions and enabled them to 
engage with increasing fearlessness in the duties of their 
vocation. After the autumn of 1752 the inhabitants of 
No. 4 made less use of the fort and ventured more boldly 
into their fields. All indications of hostility at length dis-' 
appeared. The Indians seemed disposed to traffick, the 
people were quiet from fear of evil, the wilderness and 
solitary places began to be glad and the desert to blossom. 
But soon were these appearances exchanged for melan- 
choly presages of a repetition of the horrors of Indian hos- 
tilities. The commencement of the year 1754 exhibited 
indications of a renewal of war between England and 
France, and as the line between Canada and the English 
colonies was a subject of contention, it may be easily sup- 
posed that the frontiers would be exposed to peculiar dan- 
ger. "No sooner had the alarm of hostilities, which com- 
menced between the English and French in the western 
part of Virginia, spread through the continent than the 
Indians renewed their attacks on the frontiers of New 
Hampshire." August 29, 1754, the house of Mr. James 
Johnson was visited in the evening by a party of neigh- 
bors, who passed the time with melons and the then usual 
accompaniments till about midnight. The family then 
"retired with feelings well tuned for sleep," from which 



they were awaked between daybreak and sunrise by a Mr, 
Laboree, who came for the purpose of working for Mr. 
Johnson. When Mr. Johnson opened the door the house 
was immediately filled by a crowd of Indians, who cap- 
tured the whole household, consisting of Mr. Johnson and 
wife, Sylvanus, Susan and Polly Johnson, their children, 
Miriam Willard, sister to Mrs. Johnson, and Peter Laboree 
and Ebenezer Farnsworth. A Mr. Osmer, who lodged in 
the chamber, escaped detection by concealing himself be- 
hind a box. The next day after this capture Mrs. John- 
son was delivered of a daughter, which, from the circum- 
stances of its birth, was named Captive. The Indians 
tarried one day for the accommodation of Mrs. Johnson 
and on the next resumed their march, carrying her awhile 
on a litter made for the purpose, and afterward placing 
her on horseback. Instead of meeting the fate, which she 
apprehended from her inability to march with convenient 
speed, Mrs. Johnson was treated with unexpected human- 
ity and great care was shewn in protecting and nursing 
her infant. Scoggin, the horse, was killed during their 
march to supply the want of provisions. Soon after their 
arrival at Montreal a parole of two months was granted to 
Mr. Johnson, that he might return and obtain the means 
of redemption. By applying to the Assembly of New 
Hampshire he obtained, after some time, one hundred and 
fifty pounds sterling. But the season was so far 

advanced and the winter so severe that he did not reach 
Canada till spring. He was then accused of breaking his 
parole, a great part of his money was taken from him by 
violence, he was shut up with his family in prison, where 
they took the small-pox. After eighteen months Mrs. 
Johnson, her sister and two of her daughters were sent in 
a cartel ship to England, and thence they returned to Bos- 
ton. Mr. Johnson was detained in prison three years and 
then, with his son, returned and met his wife in Boston, 
where he had the singular ill fortune to be suspected of 
designs, unfriendly to his country, and was again impris- 



oned, but no evidence appearing against him he was liber- 
ated. His eldest daughter was retained in a nunnery at 
Canada. Previouslj' to the liberation of Mr. Johnson's 
family Mr. Laboree made his escape from Montreal, and, 
after a long and tedious journey, during three days of 
which he travelled through a swamp to avoid discovery by 
the enemy, arrived at New York nearly at the same time 
with the others. Mr. Farnsworth returned before. 

The age of Sylvanus Johnson, at the time of his capture, 
was six years. During his absence he had entirely for- 
gotten the English language, but became perfect in the 
Indian. He had learned a little of the French language, 
having resided with the French about one year. He lived 
with the Indians three years and his habits and feelings 
v/ere formed accordingly. He had accompanied them in 
their hunting excursions and become accustomed to their 
hardships. So strongly were the habits of his Indian mas- 
ters fixed upon his youth that seventy-four years, passed 
in the peaceful occupation of husbandry, were not suffi- 
cient to eradicate them. He retained to the hour of his 
death many, if not most of the feelings and customs in- 
grafted on his mind by his long residence with the aborig- 
ines. He has often expressed his regret at having been 
ransomed, and has always maintained that the Indians 
were a far more moral race than the whites. He died at 
V/alpole in 1832, at the age of 84 years, leaving the repu- 
tation of an honest and upright man. 

On the 21st of September, 1754, the commissioners of 
Indian affairs at Albany were informed by Charles Cook, 
of French and Indian extraction, that, on his way from 
Cahgnawaga thither, he had met a party of twenty-one 
Indians, who had been fighting at Charlestown, alluding 
doubtless, to tiie capture of Johnson's family. He said he 
asked them why they had been fighting, since it was peace? 
They answered, that was nothing; for the English at the 
fort No. 4 had some time past poisoned two Indians; when 
at the same tim.e they were sitting and discoursing together 



and seemed to be good friends by giving them a dram at 
night, and in the morning they were both dead. Also, 
that the English, some time after, killed three Indians 
below Charlestown; and because the people of Nev/ Eng- 
land killed these five, they had taken five in their room, 
and that they were now paid. 

On the 8th of September, 1755, the inhabitants repre- 
sented to the government of Massachusetts their distresses, 
occasioned by their Indian enemies in killing their cattle, 
compelling them to neglect their fields for the defence of 
their persons, and thus inducing the danger of a loss of 
their crops. The petition for assistance was signed by 
Micah Fuller, Thomas Adams, Simon Sartwell, Moses 
Wheeler, Daniel Sartwell, James Whiting, John Hastings, 
Jr., John Spafliord, John Hastings, Seth Putnam, Mosas 
Willard, Isaac Parker, David Farnsworth and Ebenezer 
Putnam. 

On the 18th of June, 1756, while Lieut. Moses Willard 
was endeavoring to extinguish the fire, which had been 
kindled in his fence, he was attacked by the Indians and 
killed behind the barn of the late Capt. John Willard, and 
near the academy. At the same time his son Moses was 
wounded in the hip by a spear, which is said to have re- 
mained in the wound till after his retreat into the fort. It 
is further said that a Mr. Preserved Clap carried the same 
spear into the revolutionary war. Mr. Willard died Aug. 
17, 1832, aged 84 years. 

Early in the spring of 1757 a regiment, under Lieut. 
Col. Goffe, was ordered by Gen. Webb to repair to No. 4, 
but previously to their arrival the place was visited by a 
party of French and Indians, in number about 70. About 
a mile from the village, and near Spafford's mills, where 
Mr- Hall's now stand, they captured, on the 20th of April, 
Deacon Thomas Adams, while on his way to the opposite 
hill for the purpose of making sugar. They tied him to a 
tree, and on their way to the village took Mr. David 
Farnsworth. They burned the mills, being a saw and a 



grist mill, and captured Sampson Colefax, the miller. 
They then went to Claremont, as far as Sugar river, and 
there took Thomas Robbins and Asa Spafford, while on a 
hunting excursion, both belonging to Charlestown. They 
then returned to Charlestown and fired upon 15 or 20 men 
behind Capt. Willard's barn. Farnsworth found means to 
effect his escape from Canada and returned home. The 
others were exchanged on the November following their 
capture and on their return toward home, by way of Great 
Britain, all died of the small-pox at Quebec. 

In August, 1758, a party of Indians appeared at Charles- 
town, killed Asahel Stebbins, made prisoner of his wife 
and Isaac Parker and killed many cattle feeding in the 
adjacent woods. Mention is somewhere made of the cap- 
ture of a Mrs. Robbins and David Hill at the same period. 

The last captives made by the Indians at Charlestown 
were Mr. Joseph Willard, his v/ife and five children. They 
were taken on the 7th of June, 1760, in the lower me9.dow, 
about two miles from the village. On their way to Canada 
the infant was lost in a manner known to the Indians only 
and another of the children died at Crown Point, while the 
family were on their return to Charlestown. 

It is the testimony of Mrs. Johnson, yea, the universal 
testimony of the captives, that no instances occurred of 
wanton cruelty by the Indians, but that on the contrary, 
they manifested a disposition to alleviate their sufferings. 
When feeble they assisted them in travelling, and in cases 
of distress from want of provisions they shared with them 
an equal proportion. 

We here leave the political history of the place for trans- 
actions more particularly local. At a great and General 
Court, held in Boston, the 24th day of November, 1736, 
Thomas Wells, Esq., of Deerfield, was empowered to as- 
semble the Grantees of No. 4, to choose a moderator, a 
proprietor's clerk and a committee to allot and divide their 
lands. 

The tov/nship was granted to sixty proprietors on condi- 



tion that each should build a dwelling house, of at least 
eighteen feet square, and seven feet between joints, on 
their respective house lots, and fence in and break up, or 
clear and stock with grass five acres of land within three 
years next after their admittance, and cause their respec- 
tive lots to be inhabited; and that the grantees do, within 
the space of three years after their admittance, build and 
finish a convenient meeting house for the public worship 
of God and settle a learned and orthodox minister. 

The first meeting of the proprietors was on the fifth day 
of April, 1737, when a committee was appointed to lay out 
63 lots, sixty for the proprietors, two for the ministry, one 
of which was to be for the first settled minister, and one 
for schools. 

The first corn mill and saw mill, erected at No. 4, were 
completed in Aug*ust, 1744; and their completion, as it is 
said, was then deemed an event of sufficient novelty and 
importance to be celebrated by music and dancing. 

In 1751, ninety pounds, old tenor, was voted at a town 
meeting for the encouragement of a blacksmith to settle 
in No. 4. 

On the 2d of July, 1753, the proprietors obtained a char- 
ter from Benning Wentworth, Governor of the province of 
New Hampshire, granting them a tract of land containing 
six square miles, with all the privileges and appurtenances, 
upon condition "that every grantee, his heirs and assigns, 
shall plant and cultivate five acres of land within the term 
of five years for every fifty acres of land contained in his, 
or their share, and continue to improve and settle the same 
by additional cultivation, on penalty of the forfeiture of 
his grant or share in said township, and its reverting to 
his Majesty, his heirs and successors, to be by him or them 
regranted to such of his Majesty's subjects as shall effect- 
ually settle and cultivate the same." A reservation here 
follows of all white, and other pine trees, fit for masting 
the Royal navy, with the requisition from every proprietor 
of an annual rent of one ear of Indian corn during the ten 



C/2 

o 

> 



n 
ffi 

w 
o 

X 

o 

H 
K 
O 

r 
o 



to 
o 




succeeding years, and afterward one shilling proclamation 
money, for every hundred acres. 

The first meeting for the choice of town officers and for 
the transaction of other business was holden on the second 
Tuesday in Aug-ust, 1753. The time was appointed by the 
government, who appointed also Phinehas Stevens, Esq. , 
as moderator. The first town clerk was John Hastings, 
and the first selectmen were Phinehas Stevens, John 
Hastings and John Spafford. In the warrant calling the 
meeting is the article, "to see whether the tov/n will 
adopt measures to provide some convenient place for pub- 
lic worship for the ensuing winter." At the meeting no 
attention appears to have been paid to this article, but at 
a town meeting in April, 1754, the inhabitants voted to 
repair the great chamber for a place of worship and £2 
13s. 4d. were voted for the repairs. 

On the 13th of May, 1754, a vote was obtained for the 
settlement of Mr. John Dennis, in the work of the minis- 
try, and for his encouragement to settle the town voted to 
pay him annually fifty pounds lawful money, to be equal 
to silver at six shillings and eight pence per ounce; and 
also to provide for him a sufficiency of fire wood, brought 
to his house, and cut cord v/ood length. At the request of 
Mr. Dennis they afterward, previously to his ordination, 
made an addition of three pounds, six shillings and eight 
pence. On the 4th of December a small church was 
formed, and on the same day Mr. Dennis was ordained. 
So great were the apprehensions of the people of hostile 
invasion by the Indians that the ordination was at North- 
field, at the distance of forty miles. In about six months 
difficulties arose in consequence of the imprudent, if no 
worse, conduct of Mr. Dennis; but the people, under the 
influence of that charity, which is ready to provide a suita- 
ble covering for faults, "consented to a reconciliation and 
agreed to establish the Rev. John Dennis in the ministry, 
and to fulfil their contract, provided he does agreeably to 
v/hat ho has professed and declared in writing to the com- 



mimity; that he has entirely dropped, and will drop, his 
addresses and suit to Eunice Farnsworth; and shall not 
for the future give the town occasion to fault him for fal- 
lacy and prevarication." But it is the misfortune of most 
disorders of his character to gather strength from the 
means adopted for their remedy. In the present instance 
the difficulties were healed so slightly that they soon made 
their appearance in an aggravated form. On the 31st of 
March, 1756, a council was convened at Deerfield, when 
the pastoral connexion between Mr. Dennis and his flock 
was dissolved. The pastors convened for this purpose 
were those of Keene and Swanzey, Sunderland, Hatfield, 
Deerfield and Northfield. Mr. Dennis had previously to 
his settlement at Charlestown served as chaplain to several 
garrisons at the eastward- He was thus occupied ten or 
eleven years. He was a native of Ipswich, Massachusetts, 
and died 2 September, 1773, having nearly completed his 
65th year. 

The vote for building the first meeting house in Charles- 
town was passed August 11th, 17G0. The town then voted 
to build a log house for public worship, of the following 
dimensions, viz: 34 feet long, twenty v/ide and eight be- 
tween joints; and to place it on meeting house hill. They 
voted also twenty pounds lawful money to be levied on the 
inhabitants for building the house, provided so much 
should be needed. A committee was appointed to see to 
and forv/ard the building, with directions that it should be 
completed by the last day of the next September. On the 
17th of the following October the town voted to raise the 
further sum of ten pounds lawful money, for the purpose 
of "finishing the hoase so far, as to build seats, glaze the 
house, finish the pulpit so far as needful, make window 
shutters and calk the said house." 

On the 14th of the following November the town voted 
to invite Mr. Bulkley Olcott to settle with them as their 
minister; to give him the whole of the right of land, com- 
monly called the minister's riglit, and to give him also the 



sum of one hundred pounds, lawful money, of the province 
of Massachusetts Bay. In February, 1761, they voted to 
give Mr. Olcott forty-five pounds sterling, or silver, or gold 
equivalent thereto, the first year; and to make an annual 
addition of thirty shillings, till his salary should amount to 
60 pounds sterling, or silver or gold equivalent, to pay half 
the salary at the end of six months after his ordination 
and the other half at the close of the year, to proceed in 
this way during his ministry among them. 

To these last mentioned proposals Mr. Olcott acceded 
and was ordained May 28, 1761. He is represented as 
respectable in talents, acceptable as a preacher and pecu- 
liarly affable and useful in his visits from house to house. 
"During the whole of his ministry his solicitude for the 
happiness of his parishioners was conspicuous in the bene- 
fits which he conferred, and in the attachment with which 
they were requited. As a divine, he was pathetic, devout 
and instructive, and may with propriety be said to .have 

'Allur'd to brighter worlds, and lead the way.' " 

He continued in the ministry at Charlestown till June 
26th, 1793, when he was removed by death. 

It appears that another church was organized under the 
ministry of Mr. Olcott, consisting of the pastor, Isaac 
Parker, Seth Walker, Seth Putnam, Stephen Farnsworth, 
Ebenezer Putnam, Thomas Putnam, Joel Matthews, Wil- 
liam Heywood and John Spafford. 

On the 29th of May, 1796, the church met for the first 
time after the death of their pastor, and chose Deacon 
Thomas Putnam as the standing moderator of the church, 
and Dr. Samuel Crosby as clerk. 

During the period of 17 years after the death of Mr. 
Olcott the parish was destitute of regular ministrations. 
For a considerable portion of that period they were vari- 
ously supplied, but principally by the Rev. Dan Foster, 
who, after a temporary settlement in Connecticut, and 
afterward in Vermont, fixed his residence in Charlestown, 



v/here he died in March, 1809. 

The present incumbent was ordained on the 17th of Oc- 
tober, 1810. In the north parish no minister has ever been 
settled, nor a church organized. 

When the res:toration of peace had quieted the fears of 
the people they began their preparations, in 1763, for the 
erection of a building fifty-two feet long, forty-two wide, 
and twenty-five between posts. For this purpose they 
raised the sum of sixty pounds. Of the progress of the 
v/ork for more than two years and an half from its com- 
mencement, v/e have merely the information, that a prep- 
aration of materials, and the selection of a site for the 
building, were the only results of their exertions. In 
August, 1755, some unexpected occurrences— probably de- 
ficiences in means— so weakened the hands of the builders 
that the work ceased till October, 1767. At this period 
they resumed the work and again obtained a vote to raise 
the sum of sixty pounds. In December of the same year 
a committee v/as appointed to superintend the erection and 
covering of the frame. By gradual progression it became 
a place of worship in 1763. Thirty and five years was this 
temple in building; for accessions and renovations con- 
tinued till 1793, when it received its last repairs and last 
additions. 

The first vote found in the town records, respecting 
schools, was passed in August, 1763, v/hen it was voted 
that there shall be a school kept in tow a for the future, 
and that it shall be kept in difi'erent parts of the town in 
proportion to what each part shall pay toward said school. 

In 1768 the sraall-pox made its appearance in the main 
fort, of v/hich six or seven died; brought in by some of 
the British soldiers. 

In May, 1768, Capt. Simon [?] Stevens was chosen a 
representative to represent the town in the General Assem- 
bly, at Portsmouth; the first representative of Charles- 
town. 

In May, 1770, a vote v/as passed by the tovvm that the 



o 
a 

w 



o 



C/2 

St 




burying yard should be cleared, and fenced with a good 
and sufficient board fence, and that a burying cloth should 
be purchased for the use of the town. 

In March, 1770, the town voted to raise, and assess on 
the inhabitants, twenty-seven pounds for the benefit of 
schools. At the same time it was voted that the to\yn 
should be divided into three districts, and that each dis- 
trict should draw out an equal proportion, according to 
their other assessment, to be converted to the use afore- 
said; that they should otherwise forfeit their proportion, 
or such part thereof, as shall not be appropriated to the 
use aforesaid, to the use of such district, as shall convert 
the same to the use aforesaid. 

On the 19th of March, 1771, the province of New Hamp- 
shire was divided into five counties, when Charlestown 
became a half shire. The Superior Court, however, did 
not hold their sessions here till a considerable time after. 

In August, 1771, John Hastings, Jr., was chosen ^rand 
juror, to serve at his Majesty's Superior Court, to be hold- 
en at Keene on the third Tuesday of the following Septem- 
ber; and at an adjourned meeting a few days after, "a 
box being prepared according to lavv%" Lieut. Samuel 
Hunt was drawn to serve as petit juror at the same court. 
Capt. Sylvanus Hastings was the first grand juror for the 
Court of General Sessions, and Seth Walker, Jr., the first 
petit juror. 

On the 24th of October, 1774, Lieut. Samuel Hunt and 
Elijah Grout were chosen as a committee to join with oth- 
er committees from the several towns in the county, who 
were to assemble at the house of Capt. John Bellows in 
Walpole. It is recorded that the committee from Charles- 
town were furnished with instructions; but of their nature 
or the object of the meeting at Walpole, no information is 

given. 

On the 19th of January, 1775, Mr. Elijah Grout was 
chosen to represent Charlestown, at Exeter, on the 25th 
of the month, to choose delegates to send to the general 



Congress, to be holden at Philadelphia the next May. 

In August, 1775, Samuel Hunt, Wm. Heywood, Abel 
Walker, Samuel Stevens, Esq., and Elijah Grant were 
appointed a committee of safety for the town of Charles- 
town, 

In June, 1776, Samuel Wetherbe, Jotham White and 
Ebenezer Farnsworth were appointed a committee for 
preparing a place to receive persons infected with the 
small-pox, or who should accidentally take it. 

On the 6th of February, 1778, it was voted that the rep- 
resentative of this town be instructed to assent to all the 
articles of confederation, as proposed by Congress, except 
the 8th article, relative to which he is instructed to use his 
endeavor to procure such alleviation, as that the charges 
and expenses may be defrayed in the United States, and 
be proportioned on all estates, real or personal, as has been 
usually practised in this State; and that this town instruct 
their representative at the next session to use his endeavor 
to appoint and call a full and free representation of all the 
people in this State, to meet in Convention at such time 
and place, as they may appoint, for the sole purpose of 
framing and laying a permanent plan, or system, for the 
future government of this State. 

In May, 1778, Col, Samuel Hunt was chosen to represent 
Charlestown, at a convention to be holden at Concord on 
the 10th of the following June. At the same time it was 
voted, that 200 pounds be raised to defray the expenses of 
those families, whose heads were engaged in the conti- 
nental army. 

On the 8th of December, 1778, Capt. Samuel Wetherbe 
was chosen to represent Charlestown at a convention to be 
holden at Cornish, on the 2d Wednesday of the month. 
The object of this convention was the adjustment of diffi- 
culties, which had arisen between Vermont and the towns 
admitted into their confederation on the eastern side of 
Connecticut river. In June, 1778, sixteen towns in New 
Hampshire, representing "that they were not connected 



with any State, with respect to their internal police/' re- 
quested to be received in union with the State of Vermont. 
After much deliberation and hesitancy the Assembly of 
Vermont granted their petition; and further resolved, that 
any other towns on the east side of the Connecticut river, 
might be admitted into the union by a vote of a majority 
of the inhabitants, or by sending a representative- In the 
Assembly of Vermont, convened at Windsor, a question 
arose, * 'whether the towns on the east side of Connecticut 
river, which had been admitted into union with Vermont, 
should be formed into a county by themselves;" and the 
vote passed in the negative. The members from these 
towns then withdrew from the Assembly, and were fol- 
lowed by fifteen of the representatives from some of the 
towns in Vermont, adjoining the river, with the deputy 
governor and two assistants. The members, who had 
withdrawn themselves from the Assembly, formed into a 
convention, and gave an invitation to the towns on- both 
sides of Connecticut river, to unite, and to meet with them 
in convention at Cornish, N. H., Dec. 9, 1778. The people 
on both sides of Connecticut river wished to form a gov- 
ernment, the centre and seat of which should be upon the 
river. 

On the 9th of March, 1779, Josiah Hunt was drawn as 
juryman to serve at the Court to be holden at Charlestown 
the next April. At the same time, Capt. Samuel Wetherbe 
was chosen to serve as grand juror at the Court of General 
Sessions of the peace, first to be holden at Charlestown on 
the first Thursday following the second Tuesday in April 
next. At the same time, Messrs. Elijah Grout and Simeon 
Olcott, were appointed a committee to give instructions to 
their representative respecting the grants on the west side 
of Connecticut river. 

On the 16th of August, 1779, Elijah Grant, Samuel 
Wetherbe, Peter Laboree, Constant Hart and Bradstreet 
Spafford were appointed a committee to hire and pay five 
men, called for out of the town, to enter the service, and 



pay them their respective bounties. 

Sept. 13, 1779, Col. Samuel Hunt was chosen to repre- 
sent Charlestown, agreeably to the request of the select- 
men of Portsmouth, at a convention to be holden at Con- 
cord the 22d of the month. 

On the 7th of December, 1779, the town voted to pay 
Constant Hart the sum of sixty pounds for going to New- 
bury, in Coos, to engage, and pay the bounties of several 
continental soldiers, who enlisted during the war for said 
Charlestov/n; also, to pay said Hart eighteen pounds for 
keeping a continental woman, while sick, and for trans- 
porting said woman to Walpole. 

On the 13th of November, 1780, Col. Samuel Hunt and 
Dr. William Page were chosen to join a convention of com- 
mittees from the several towns in this county, to be holden 
at Walpole on the 15th of the month. 

On the 8th of December, 1780, Col. Samuel Hunt, Dr. 
William Page and Capt. Samuel Wetherbe were appointed 
to represent Charlestown, in a convention there to be 
holden on the third Tuesday of the next January. 

The convention was holden at Charlestown on the day 
appointed, and was attended by delegates from 43 towns. 
A majority voted in favor of uniting with the State of 
Vermont. 

On the 16th of the following April, the town voted, 
* 'that, whereas this town has, since the commencement of 
the present year, been at sundry times called upon for 
beef, m.oney, etc., by the State of Nov/ Hampshire, they 
v\^ill not pay to the said State any of the articles above 
mentioned." 

On the 3d of the follov»ing May, upwards of forty of the 
inliabitants of Charlestown took the freeman's oath, re- 
quired by the State of Vermont. 

On the 8th of AugTist, 1782, the inhabitants of Charles- 
town agreed to comply with the demand, made by an act 
of the General Assembly for 1781, and which, on the IGth 
of April, 1781, they had peremptorily refused to answer. 



-•<i'' V. 




"The continental Congress having proposed and recom- 
mended such an alteration in the 8th article of the confed- 
eration, as to make the population of the several States, 
instead of the value of the granted land therein, the rule 
for the apportionment of national taxes," the town voted, 
on the 2d of September, 1783, that they would not make 
the proposed alteration in the 8th article of the confedera- 
tion. On the same day they voted, that the Chief Magis- 
trate of this State have the title of President. 

On the 29th of January, 1788, the town chose Benjamin 
West, Esq. , to represent Charlestown, in a convention to 
be holden at Exeter, on the second Tuesday of the following 
February, for the investigation of matters, relative to the 
Federal Constitution. 

Since the above mentioned period, Charlestown has 
"kept the even tenor of its way," and furnished no inci- 
dents worthy of particular mention. With respect to that 
quiet and peaceable life, which passes without observation, 
the inhabitants of the place have been rather a peculiar 
people; an honorable, though unhonored distinction. 
Charlestown is not distinguished as a place of business, 
having very few of the privileges, necessary to the manu- 
facturer; and is regarded as less favorable for the acquisi- 
tion of property, than pleasant for expending it. The 
salubrity of the place may be inferred from the fact, that 
during the twenty-four last years, the annual number of 
deaths in the south parish, containing between ten and 
eleven hundred inhabitants, has been fourteen only; and 
from the further circumstance, that an uncommon number 
of the deceased arrived at a good old age. Of those who 
died in this period, the ages of sixty-four, (the youngest 
of them being seventy) , make an average of seventy-nine 
years for each. Of the sixty-four, two died at the age of 
90 years, one 93, and one 97. The oldest person, now liv- 
ing in Charlestown, is a Mr. Carpenter, aged 95. The 
oldest native of Charlestown, now living in the place, is 
the widow of the Hon. John Hubbard, and daughter of 



Cr.pt. Stevens, the brave defender of the fort. She was 
born in the fort in 1750. 

Of the piibhc ciiaractoi-s furnished by Charlestown, we 
can make but a cursory mention. The Hon. John Hub- 
bard was many years county treasurer; was appointed 
judge of probate for the county of Cheshire, 16 July, 1789, 
and continued in office until the close of 1797. He died in 
1806, at the age of 54 years. 

Hon. Samuel Stevens, son of Capt. Phinehas Stevens, 
was often the representative from Charlestown; was six 
years one of the counsellors of the State, and many years 
register of probate, in which office he continued till his 
death, at the age of 88 years. He died 17 November, 1823. 
"By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted." 

Col. Samuel Hunt, an active military officer in the 
French and revolutionary wars, was settled in Charles- 
town in 1759, and was appointed the first sheriff of the 
county, under the new constitution, in 1784, and filled the 
ofllce till his death in 1799. 

Hon. Si?riEON Olcott, a native of Bolton, Connecticut, 
was graduated at Yale College in 1761; commenced the 
practice of law in Charlestown; was appointed chief jus- 
tice of the court of common pleas, in 1784; associate jus- 
tice of the superior court in 1790; chief justice in 1795, and 
senator in Congress in 1801. In his intercourse with 
5!ociety he was distinguished by that charity, which think- 
eth no evil, and does good, as it has opportunity; and in 
the character of judge, he manifested less regard for the 
letter of the law than for the spirit of equity. He died in 
1815, aged 79. 

lion. Benjamin West, was graduated at Harvard Col- 
lege in 1768; settled in Charlestown in the practice of law; 
was a member of the convention for accepting the Consti- 
tution of the United States; vv^as elected member of con- 
gress, but declined the office; was an elector of President 
and Vice President of the United States; and a member of 
the H irtford Convention. "At the bar he was ainon t the 



C/2 
O 

a 

> 

S 

O 
d 

o 

a 

c^ 

(D 

CO 
<rt- 
i-S 
O 
'<l 
(T> 
&. 

1—^ 
00 

to 




— ~sr' 



nJ-B-'^fc- ^, 







first of his profession. His application, learning and integ- 
rity gave him great and merited influence." He died in 
1817, aged 71. 

Among the distinguished features of the village, are its 
neatness, its long and pleasant street, shaded by a row of 
elms on one side and a row of maples on the other; and its 
regularly located, well proportioned, though not splendid, 
buildings. But the building, worthy of special observa- 
tion, is the church, erected in 1820, at the expense of seven 
thousand and five hundred dollars. Its materials are brick, 
and its dimensions, 70 feet in length, 60 in breadth and 32 
between joints. It contains an elegant and excellent 
organ, purchased in 1829, at the expense of about 1200 
dollars. It occupies a conspicuous place precisely in the 
centre of the village. "Of the order of architecture, to 
which it belongs, we cannot speak with any confidence, as 
its founders, with a fearlessness and independence, pecu- 
liar to New England, paid no deference to the ideas of 
elegance, entertained either by their contemporaries or 
predecessors, but fashioned it according to their own taste; 
and satisfied with the result of their labors, they did not 
trouble themselves with the invention of a name, justly 
thinking, that, to the uninitiated, it was a matter of no 
consequence; and that to all, acquainted v/ith the myster- 
ies of architecture, the work would speak for itself." 

A few rods north of the meeting house, on the opposite 
side of the street, is the bank, a neat, well proportioned 
building of brick, erected in 1824. The capital is a hun- 
dred thousand dollars. 

Opposite to the bank, on a lane, leading eastward from 
the main street, stands the deserted court house; deserted, 
it having been considered expedient, in 1827, that "the 
place of judgment" should thenceforward be at Newport. 
On the opposite side of the main street, and not far distant 
from the court house, stands its natural accompaniment, 
the jail, rapidly hastening to dissolution. It is to receive 
no repairs, since a receptacle of a similar character is 



probably to be erected in a more suitable meridian. 

About a mile and a half from the village, there is in 
erection across the Connecticut, a bridge between Charles- 
town and Springfield, Vt., of "an elegant structure, sup- 
ported by two piers of granite, with abutments of the 
same material. The piers are about forty-two feet high, 
the floor of the bridge being about thirty-two feet from 
low water mark. The piers are sixty-two feet long at the 
bottom, and sixteen wide. On the up-stream side of each 
pier, and united with it, is an inclined plane of granite, 
and capped with oak timber, bolted to the stone work, to 
receive and break the ice, and other obstructions, which 
may float against them. The base of the inclined plane is 
about 25 feet. The piers are secured by iron bolts and 
bars, running from the down corners angularly to the 
centre. The superstructure is 506 feet long and 25 wide, 
and is built upon the plan of Ithiel Downes' patent. It is 
supported upon the piers at distances of 168 feet from the 
centre of each pier. The support of the superstructure is 
by two continued trellises 15 feet high, one on each side, 
and extending through the whole length of the bridge. 
These trellises are composed entirely of sawed plank three 
inches thick, and twelve inches wide, placed diagonally in 
the form of lattice work, having two string pieces on each 
side at top and bottom, the whole being secured together 
at each intersection by four two-inch treenails, and with- 
out the aid of iron work of any description, and without 
mortice or tenon, or any cutting of the plank other than 
by the auger. The trellises are closely boarded on the out- 
side, and the whole is covered with a handsome shingled 
roof, resting on the top string pieces. The bridge is to be 
lighted in the day by six dead lights in the sides, and six 
glazed sky-lights in the roof; and in the night by large 
lam^ps, suspended from the centre of the beam over head." 

The contractors for erecting the bridge, are Mr. Isaac 
Damons and Mr. Lyman Kingsley of Northampton, Mass. ; 
to the former of whom we are indebted for the above de- 



> 

r 
r 

Q 
S 






00 
CO 




scription of the bridge. The stone work is under the 
superintendence of Mr. Isaac Silsby of Charlestown. It is 
estimated that the expense of the bridge will be twelve 
thousand dollars. 

About a mile from the village, and on the spot where 
Spafford's mills were burned in 1746, and again in 1757, 
and where recently stood the mills, erected in 1804 by 
Oliver Hall, Esq., there is now in erection by his son, Mr. 
Horace Hall, a grist mill of a superior structure, and of 
durable materials. The edifice is a square, the breadth of 
its sides 40 feet, and its height on the west end is 80 feet. 
The materials of the front and corners are granite and the 
residue of stone from the neighboring hills. The whole 
edifice is founded on a rock, and during the preparations 
for the foundation, were discovered among the rubbish, 
fragments of the mills burnt by the Indians. The diame- 
ter of the waterwheel is 28 feet; and its weight about six 
tons. The extent of the fall is between 40 and 50 feet, 
and the borders on the stream beneath are beautifully 
variegated by trees and shrubs; the whole in the direction 
of the stream exhibiting a peculiarly romantic appearance. 

In the village of Charlestown are two libraries, one con- 
sisting of about 400 volumes and the other of 480. 

Of the religious character of Charlestown, it is reported 
to have been said by way of reproach, that they cared too 
little for religion even to quarrel about it. That they care 
too little; that they manifest far less, than the desirable 
interest in the subject, it would be presumptuous to deny; 
but that they are, in such deficiencies, a peculiar people, it 
would be equally presumptuous to suppose. We cannot 
but hope, that no inconsiderable portion in their apparent 
failure in the comparison, sometimes made, arises from 
their impression, that religion was designed for salutary 
effect rather than for display; that it is its chief purpose 
to make and preserve the heart right with God, and not to 
secure the observation of man; that its best display is the 
work of righteousness. We have adverted to the general 



disposition of the people to lead quiet and peaceable lives; 
but whether they do it in godliness and honesty, must be 
determined before a tribunal, at which neither they, nor 
their accusers, are to preside. 
Charlestown, October, 1833. 




EXPLANATORY 

The cut of the South Parish Church completed in 1798 
shows the Walker house, Church, Darrah Tavern, Sylves- 
ter's Store, and glimpses of the Eagle Hotel and Jail. This 
cut, also the one showing the Church and Darrah Tavern 
which were burned in 1842 were made from old drawings. 

The cuts of village homes and streets were used through 
the courtesy of the Advocate Press of Claremont, N. H. 
The house owned by Miss Clapp is the old Gov. Hubbard 
mansion; that owned by A. T. Morse, as a summer home, 
is the old Benj. West place, later owned by Geo. Olcott; 
that of Mrs. W. H. Labaree is on the site of the old Fort. 
The Memorial Boulder and Tablet marking this spot was 
placed in August, 1904 on the 150th. anniversary of the cap- 
ture of the Johnson family. 

The historic Eagle Hotel was burned in December, 1904. 

The original Johnson house forms a part of that now oc- 
cupied by John Fish. 

The Evans House, which for a time was the home of Miss 
Pratt's School for Girls, was burned in 1891. 



■^ 



l>*K-. 




014 013 527 6 O 



>-V 






LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 



■■■lllllllllli 

014 013 527 6 Q 



